2021-04-01: News Headlines

teleSUR (2021-04-01). COVID-19 Surge Forces Chile To Close Its Borders in April. telesurenglish.net Chile's Health Minister Enrique Paris announced new COVID-19 restrictions due to the resurgence of the pandemic. | RELATED: | On Thursday, he reported 7,830 new COVID-19 cases, the highest number of new infections since the outbreak of the pandemic. Measures to curb the spread of the virus include a border closure during April. Permits to enter and depart will only be issued for humanitarian emergencies. | The curfew will now…

orinocotribune (2021-04-01). Piñera's Elections-Postponement Maneuver Passes in Lower House of Parliament 'Due to Coronavirus'. orinocotribune.com This Wednesday, March 31, the Chamber of Deputies of the Chilean Congress approved the constitutional reform presented by President Sebastián Piñera to postpone until May 15 and 16 the elections scheduled for April 10 and 11 in the South American country," due to the Covid-19 pandemic." | In those elections the new governors, mayors and councilors of the country will be elected, as well as the members of the Constitutional Assembly, who will be in responsible for drafting the new Constitution of the country, reported RT. | In case a second round is necessary in the elections of governors, the approved initiative…

Lucas Leiroz de Almeida (2021-04-01). Bolsonaro Government in Crisis. Pro-American or Pro-Chinese? globalresearch.ca Many changes are about to happen in the Brazilian political scenario, …

teleSUR (2021-04-01). Peru Saw Last Presidential Debate Ahead of April 11 Elections. telesurenglish.net Peru's National Elections Jury (JNE) Wednesday concluded the last presidential debate, an event in which six candidates presented their promises to tackle the pandemic and corruption. | RELATED: | The debate was attended by Rafael Lopez(Popular Renovation), Yonhy Lescano (Popular Action), Julio Guzman (Purple Party), Daniel Salaverry (We Are Peru), Rafael Santos (Safe Homeland), and Ciro Galvez (United National Rebi…

WSWS (2021-04-01). Bolsonaro sacks military command to consolidate authoritarian rule in Brazil. wsws.org In an action unprecedented in Brazilian history, the country's fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro has fired his defense minister and the commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Jose Manuel Blanco Diaz (2021-04-01). What is the Connection Between El Coqui, Cota 905 and Apure Clashes? orinocotribune.com This Tuesday, March 30, the argument for a possible connection between the actions of criminal gangs such as the one headed by El Coqui in the Caracas sector of Cota 905, and those of criminal organizations promoted from Colombia and the United States, gained strength again in recent hours. | In the morning and part of the afternoon of this Tuesday, March 30, there were complaints on social media networks about suspicious movements of armed individuals in the surroundings of the area known as El Pinar in El Paraíso parish, Caracas. | By different means, users reported detonations in other areas of Cota 905, a nei…

teleSUR (2021-04-01). Colombia Allows Second Fracking Project in the Magdalena Basin. telesurenglish.net Colombia's National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) authorized ExxonMobil to carry out a second pilot fracking project. | RELATED: | The "Platero" research project will be developed in the Magdalena Valley basin where the Colombian oil company Ecopetrol is also developing its own pilot. | Investments for Ecopetrol's Kale and ExxonMobil's Platero projects are valued at US$130 million. The ANH is also analyzing two othe…

_____ (2021-04-01). Tens Of Millions In Florida Properties Linked To Ecuadorian Candidate. popularresistance.org In March 2017, ahead of Ecuador's second-round presidential election, CEPR reported that Florida-based shell companies linked to then-candidate Guillermo Lasso owned 144 properties in Broward and Miami-Dade counties valued at over $30 million. In that election, voters approved a referendum barring politicians and civil servants from holding assets in tax havens and giving them one year to divest or transfer their holdings. Though Florida is not included among the list of tax havens, it is considered a "low tax jurisdiction," which authorities will handle on a case-by-case basis. | Four years later, Ecuador is aga…

RT (2021-04-01). Russian diplomats reveal 'acute shortage' of essentials in North Korea caused by Covid-19 restrictions, embassies almost empty. rt.com Diplomats serving in North Korea are enduring a shortage of goods and a lack of medicine, as restrictions to battle the Covid-19 pandemic have caused the already-secretive country to isolate itself even more than before. | Writing on Facebook, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang revealed that 38 foreign nationals have recently left their diplomatic missions in the country, with representatives from the likes of the UK, Brazil, and Germany also flying home. | "The exodus of foreigners will continue," an embassy statement read. "There are now hardly any foreigners left — fewer than 290 in all. One can understa…

Staff (2021-04-01). Headlines for April 1, 2021. democracynow.org Witness in Derek Chauvin Murder Trial Breaks Down After Viewing Footage of George Floyd's Killing, Four Killed as Gunman Opens Fire on Office Complex in Orange County, California, Biden Defends Infrastructure Plan as Progressives Push for $10 Trillion to Fight Climate Crisis, Wisconsin Supreme Court Voids Governor's Mask Mandate as COVID-19 Cases Rise Across U.S., Brazil's Cemeteries Hold Nighttime Funerals as COVID-19 Deaths Reach New Highs, Yemen Receives First COVID-19 Vaccine Shipments as Doctors Report Surge in Cases, Global Deforestation Increased by 12% in 2020 with Amazon Most Severely Affected, U.S. Cour…

teleSUR (2021-04-01). Panama Detects Nine Cases of Brazilian COVID-19 Strains. telesurenglish.net Panama's Gorgas Memorial Institute Director Juan Pascale confirmed nine patients with the SARS-CoV-2 strains originated in Brazil. | RELATED: | The P.1. and P.2. strains have been detected in community transmission cases in San Francisco, Don Bosco, Parque Lefevre, and San Miguelito. | The Health Ministry warned that the P.1. variant is the most contagious and reduces vaccines' effectiveness by 30 percent. | At least two patients with these strain…

Brasil Wire (2021-04-01). Fallout: US Suppression of Russian Vaccine in Brazil Becomes Diplomatic Incident. globalresearch.ca On Sunday March 14 2021,

Staff (2021-04-01). Brazil in Crisis: COVID Deaths Soar & Hospitals Overflow Amid Unprecedented Political Upheaval. democracynow.org Brazil now accounts for about a quarter of all COVID-19 daily deaths worldwide, more than any other country, and its overall death toll of more than 310,000 is surpassed only by the United States. Far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro faces intense pressure to abandon his opposition to vaccinations, lockdowns and mask-wearing. Dr. Miguel Nicolelis, professor of neurobiology at Duke University and former coordinator of the largest scientific COVID-19 task force in Brazil, says Bolsonaro "has played on the side of the virus" by opposing any efforts to control the outbreak. "Since the beginning, he downplayed…

teleSUR (2021-03-31). Chile Postpones Constitutional Election Due To Pandemic. telesurenglish.net Chile's Chamber of Deputies approved on Wednesday the bill submitted by President Sebastian Pinera to postpone municipal, regional and constituent elections to May 15 and 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | The bill was passed with 126 votes in favor, three against, and 11 abstentions. The elections were initially scheduled for April 10 and 11. Moreover, the second round of governor elections was postponed…

teleSUR (2021-03-31). Mapuche People File Genocide Lawsuit Against President Piñera. telesurenglish.net Mapuche Indigenous people communities filed a complaint against Chile's President Sebastian Piñera for genocide crimes. | RELATED: | The lawsuit was presented before Temuco's Guarantee Court, where they denounced the militarization of Mapuche territories and human rights violations. | The complainants claim that Piñera established a "low-intensity war" by declaring the Mapuche people as an "internal enemy." | Th…

teleSUR (2021-03-31). Brazilians Reject the 1964 Coup d'Etat Celebrations. telesurenglish.net Brazil's progressive social and political organizations on Wednesday called for protests to reject the 1964 coup d'etat celebrations and demand the resignation of President Jair Bolsonaro. | RELATED: | The Causa Operaria Party (PCO) pointed out that the Brazilian right-wing and the Armed Forces continue to commemorate March 31 as if it were "a heroic deed" that could be repeated at any time. | In this sense, the new Defense Minister Walter Br…

Ben Chacko (2021-03-31). Democracy dies under Brazil's neo-fascist Bolsonaro. peoplesworld.org

teleSUR (2021-03-31). Brazilian Lawmakers Push For Impeachment Against Bolsonaro. telesurenglish.net The initiative is promoted by senators Randolfe Rodrigues and Jean Paul Prates and deputies Alessandro Molon, Marcelo Freixo, and Arlindo Chinaglia. | The legislators consider that the president is trying to "misappropriate the military forces in Brazil, with personal interests, posing an evident threat to democracy." | RELATED: | The request will be accepted during this day in the Chamber of Deputies and joins other similar nature pet…

Brett Heinz (2021-03-31). Tens of Millions in Florida Properties Linked to Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate Guillermo Lasso. cepr.net In March 2017, ahead of Ecuador's second-round presidential election, CEPR reported that Florida-based shell companies linked to then-candidate Guillermo Lasso owned 144 properties in Broward and Miami-Dade counties valued at over $30 million. In that election, voters approved a referendum barring politicians and civil servants from holding assets in tax havens and giving them one …

Lorena Barberia (2021-03-31). Lula Returns as Covid Runs Wild in Brazil. zcomm.org Brazil's president Bolsonaro continues to deny the Covid crisis, as Lula's return to politics creates shockwaves from the favelas to Wall St.

Katu Arkonada (2021-03-31). Ecuador: Lenin Moreno and the CIA against Andres Arauz. orinocotribune.com By Katu Arkonada — Mar 29, 2021 | The second round of the Ecuadorian election between the candidate of the pro-Correa citizen revolution Arauz and the banker Lasso is approaching, and things are accelerating in the axis formed by Lenin Moreno and the United States, with its intelligence services at the forefront. | Recently, a secret meeting took place in the Galapagos Islands between the Ecuadorian and US governments. On the Ecuadorian side, President Lenin Moreno, Vice President María Alejandra Muñoz, and the Secretary-General of the Cabinet of the Presidency Jorge Wated took part; on the US side, its Amba…

teleSUR (2021-03-31). Argentina Negotiates Indian and Cuban COVID-19 Vaccines. telesurenglish.net Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez administration began negotiations with Cuba and India to access these countries' new COVID-19 vaccines. | RELATED: | On Tuesday, Cuba officials delivered updated documentation on the Soberana 02 vaccine, which is currently in phase 3 of clinical trials. | A dialogue was also initiated to access Indian-produced Covaxin, whose tests in Argentina showed positive results. This vacci…

Staff (2021-03-31). Headlines for March 31, 2021. democracynow.org Eyewitnesses Give Chilling Testimony of Police Killing of George Floyd, Brazil in Crisis as COVID Deaths Soar & Military Chiefs Quit in Protest, U.S. COVID Deaths Top 550,000; Florida Undercounted Thousands of Deaths, Bloomberg Employees Got Special Access to Vaccines at NYU Hospitals, China Delivers 100,000 COVID Vaccines to Palestine, White House Unveils $2 Trillion Jobs & Infrastructure Plan, Two Police Deputies Indicted in Texas for Killing Javier Ambler After Traffic Stop, Capitol Police Officers Sue Trump as GOP Welcomes Oath Keepers Founder in Texas, Man Arrested for Viciously Attacking Filipino Woman in N…

teleSUR (2021-03-31). Paraguay's President Justifies His Pandemic Mishandling. telesurenglish.net Paraguay's President Mario Abdo held a press conference on Tuesday to address his country's health crisis, economic situation, and political instability. | RELATED: | His public appearance comes after weeks of massive demonstrations prompted by the lack of COVID-19 vaccines and corruption scandals. | As a justification for the erratic behavior of his administration, Abdo said the country disbursed in "time and form" funds…

teleSUR (2021-03-31). Peru's Congress Postpones Session on the 'Vaccinegate'. telesurenglish.net On Tuesday, Peru's Congress suspended a session aimed at analyzing the final reports on the 'Vaccinegate ' and 'Richard Swing' case in which former President Martin Vizcarra (2018-2020) is involved. | RELATED: | The decision was taken because the Vacunagate report is not ready and the Oversight Commission congresswoman in charge of presenting the Richard Swing case took a medical leave. | Vacunagate report states th…

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2021-03-31: News Headlines

Staff (2021-03-31). Headlines for March 31, 2021. democracynow.org Eyewitnesses Give Chilling Testimony of Police Killing of George Floyd, Brazil in Crisis as COVID Deaths Soar & Military Chiefs Quit in Protest, U.S. COVID Deaths Top 550,000; Florida Undercounted Thousands of Deaths, Bloomberg Employees Got Special Access to Vaccines at NYU Hospitals, China Delivers 100,000 COVID Vaccines to Palestine, White House Unveils $2 Trillion Jobs & Infrastructure Plan, Two Police Deputies Indicted in Texas for Killing Javier Ambler After Traffic Stop, Capitol Police Officers Sue Trump as GOP Welcomes Oath Keepers Founder in Texas, Man Arrested for Viciously Attacking Filipino Woman in N…

Lorena Barberia (2021-03-31). Lula Returns as Covid Runs Wild in Brazil. zcomm.org Brazil's president Bolsonaro continues to deny the Covid crisis, as Lula's return to politics creates shockwaves from the favelas to Wall St.

Brasil de Fato (2021-03-30). Brazil's deadliest weekend of the pandemic: 5,000 dead and 130,000 new cases. peoplesdispatch.org The uncontrolled advance of COVID-19 in Brazil leaves behind a tragic figure of 5,094 deaths having been reported to the National Council of Health Secretaries, Conass, this weekend alone, a sum of the fatalities that occurred on Saturday March 27 and Sunday March 28. | There were 3,438 deaths on Saturday — the third day that the 3,000 mark was surpassed since the start of the Over the last 2…

WSWS (2021-03-30). Dozens subpoenaed under Brazil's "national security" law for calling Bolsonaro "genocidal" wsws.org The Bolsonaro government and the state apparatus are responding to the explosive tensions in Brazil, the world epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.

teleSUR (2021-03-30). Peru: Leftist Candidate Takes the Lead in Presidential Debate. telesurenglish.net Following the first presidential debate in Peru on Monday, local outlets' polls place the left-wing candidate Veronika Mendoza first in the audience's positive opinions. | RELATED: | Outlet La Republica polled 3,200 online users, 60.7 percent of whom said that the Together Peru candidate was the debate's winner. | Her closest rival was Alberto Beingolea from the Popular Christian Party, with 23.8 percent of positive opinions…

pyeverino (2021-03-30). Anti-Racist Movements in Brazil: Activist Series. dsausa.org This is a series, running every Friday 7 — 8 pm until May 7. RSVP Here Around the world, Black-led movements are raising the stakes in our collective struggles. This discussion series with leading Black and Indigenous militants from across Brazil spotlights their experiences in organizing against state violence, workplace exploitation, and structural racism everywhere…

Dean Baker (2021-03-30). Free Trade and Free Taxes: How Our Intellectuals Help the Rich. cepr.net Since I came to Washington in 1992, I have been working alongside friends in the policy community, labor movement, and community organizations in fighting against a series of trade pacts. NAFTA was the immediate issue in 1992, but a couple of years later we had the Uruguay Round of the GATT that created the WTO. …

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2021-03-30). 'Major Political Crisis' in Brazil as Military Chiefs Quit Amid Bolsonaro Purge of Top Ministers. commondreams.org A leading opposition figure said the country "can't overcome" Covid-19 with Bolsonaro, because "he is the crisis incarnate." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bolsonaro_4.jpg

Matt Sedlar (2021-03-30). In Brazil, Vaccine Diplomacy Can Help Save the Climate. cepr.net Foreign Policy See article on original site On March 18, the Biden administration confirmed that it was finalizing a plan to send 2.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Mexico, just as the U.S. government petitions its southern neighbor for assistance with managing a record rate of migration through Central America. This might be …